[ussbansheec] One of the Family
- From: Andy Maluhia <CaptainAndy@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ussbansheec@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:02:25 -0500
_One of the Family_
by the Kaartaren family, Lady Gressa, Jaresh, Audra Sonata, Maria
Wagner, Magni Asgardson, & Angelique Liliana Marquez
***takes place after 'Schmetterling' and before 'Warm Welcome'
Adonis was usually in a fairly decent mood to begin with. His one day
off had been an unqualified success. If the picture in his pocket
hadn't been enough proof of that, the fact that the subject of said
picture was walking by his side, holding his hand, would have been.
Maria's face had lit up when she heard that he was going to visit Rome.
No, if he was honest, it was her entire psyche that lit up. It was as
if the peace and serenity she radiated had been magnified one hundred
times over. 'So close to were der Papst is' she'd said sweetly.
Alright, he didn't buy into her beliefs but they made her as sweet and
gentle as she was and that was all that mattered.
Now, as they approached the home that used to belong to his maternal
grandfather, he squeezed her hand. "Sure you haven't changed your mind?"
"No, I haven't. As it is, Vati is wondering about you so this is fair,"
she replied, although she was glad she'd had time to go back to London
and change into something more suitable than a sundress.
"Hey, you made it," a cheerful voice called from behind them. A young
woman, remarkably similar in appearance to Adonis smiled. "Who's your
friend?"
"Of course I did," he said brightly as he leaned to kiss the newcomer's
cheek. "This is just the perfect end to a perfect day and this lovely
lady is Maria Wagner, another butterfly aficionado. Maria, this is my
sister Artemis."
"Welcome, Maria. I hope you're hungry," Artemis grinned. "I understand
Jaresh has been cooking up a storm today."
"Maybe just a little," she said softly. "It was too hot to do much more
than sip juice in Florida."
"Still warmer than London but I wouldn't want to stay there
permanently." Adonis gave his sister a rueful smile. "It's his fault,
and Dad's, you know. My last physical had the doctor making faces at
me...still."
"Don't they always?" Artemis asked, ringing the doorbell.
"She's picking on me," Adonis said with a mock pout.
Maria chuckled lightly. "My brothers do worse things," she told them
even as she squeezed his hand. Alright, so she was a little intimidated
now. This was the first time any man had ever asked her to meet his
family. "Besides, you're fine the way you are."
"Yeah, he's not bad," Artemis agreed with a wink. "Well...for a guy,
anyway..."
The door opened, revealing a very tall blond man, with blue and green
streaks in his long hair, pointed ears, bright emerald green eyes, fine,
almost feminine features, and delicate looking wings. "HI," he greeted
them merrily when he saw them there, then called loudly over his
shoulder ,"THEY'RE HERE!!!!"
Maria opened her mouth to ask a question then stopped. The whole
confusion as to what Adonis was, certainly NOT a mutant, didn't mean
somebody else wasn't. After all this man had blue streaks in his hair
just like her.
"Thanks, Jaresh," Adonis said, barely reigning in his smile. "You never
know when the doorbell isn't working."
Jaresh wrapped his arms around both twins, drawing them to him in a big
bear hug. "I made mu gu gai pan and pineapple cheesecake and TURNIPS!"
Adonis glanced at his sister, almost cringing as he asked, "Not in the
same dish, right? Because I don't think that would be quite...edible."
"Sure it would be ,but no. I have lots of dishes. Lots and lots and lots
and lots and lots...." he continued as he turned and headed back into
the kitchen, passing Calista on his way.
"HI, kids. Who is your friend?" she asked with a smile as she helped set
the table, placing some dishes carefully while others appeared to place
themselves.
Leading Maria by the hand, Adonis approached his mother then leaned to
kiss her cheek. "Missed you, Mom," he said softly before straightening
up. "This is Maria Wagner. We just met this morning. Maria, this is
my mom."
At first Maria had ben distracted by the sight of the dishes moving
about on their own It reminded her of an old 2D movie she'd watched as
a child. Then she looked up. Oh dear, she's gorgeous! That was her
first thought. She can't be old enough to be his mother. She offered a
shy smile. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."
Calista smiled warmly. "It's a pleasure, Maria." To the twins, she said,
"Audra's down stairs cleaning the basement again. You're welcomed to go
down and see her, otherwise she will be up shortly, and your father
should be home any minute." She almost laughed when she added, "I hope
you're all terribly hungry. Jaresh had made enough food for an entire
space station."
"When am I not hungry?" Adonis asked with a smirk.
"You want to meet my nanny, Maria? She's been with us for as long as I
can remember. Well, her and Gressa," he added.
"If you'd like," Maria said, amused that he still referred to her as
his. What a sweet man.
"Gressa will be returning with your father." Calista added. "She's been
helping watch him of late. He's been a bit out of hand with the sweets
lately," she laughed lightly, before sobering, adding, "Don't forget to
check with Audra before turning on any lights. I'm not sure she's got
the portable shield on down there."
Adonis' amusement was quite clear to any telepath. His father was as
bad as he was and they both knew it. "You want to hear something funny,
Maria? Gressa used to be my other sister's nanny before Dad met Mom and
she still thinks she has to keep an eye on Dad. Except it's really
funny to see them arguing: an eighty-ish Betazoid and a much older Klingon."
"And I thought my godfather Logan was odd," Maria grinned.
"Oh,Artemis, before you go down, can you com Mika, please? I'm not sure
what time she'll be here and I don't want to start without her," Calista
called as she put the finishing touches on the table.
Adonis headed down the stairs, consciously leaving the lights off.
Maria was about to ask why when he knocked on the side wall. "Audra?
It's me. I've brought a friend I'd like you to meet."
Pas eyed the gray haired woman walking next to him. "Admit it, you
missed them, too, Gressa. All three of them," Pas teased as they
approached the house, his arms laden with flowers.
"It is good to see that I did my job properly," the Klingon hmmphed.
"You have good children, Kaartaren." She halted, her nose twitching.
"The twins are here yet...there is a strange female with them. Human,
smells different."
Pas tilted his head curiously, knowing better by then than to ignore
Gressa's warnings. Yes, there was definitely a stranger among them.
Whoever it was, his son was very happy about it. They stepped into the
house and he looked around. Not seeing anyone, he found Calista and put
an arm around her. "Hey, beautiful, we're back."
"Come," a quiet female voice responded on the other side of the wall
after a moment. "I am here."
Maria smiled as she watched him embrace a woman who was even smaller
than her. If she believed in such things, other than the movies and in
books, she might have thought she was a vampire. But she did wonder if
she were alien or mutant.
"I'm glad you're here, Audra. This is my friend Maria Wagner." ~~Isn't
she the cutest?~~
"Hello, Maria," she said softly. ~~Of course. ~~
"Maria, this is Audra Sonata, quite possibly the galaxy's greatest nanny
and my very good friend," Adonis said simply, his arm around Audra as he
beckoned Maria closer.
"Hi," Maria said simply, holding out her hand. "He's talked a lot about
you but I think he must have been a naughty child to have to watch."
"No more so than any other," Audra answered, smiling slightly, a slight
hiss sounding on her s's. "He was a beautiful child."
Pas set the flowers down then and pointed a thumb at Gressa. "My
personal watch Klingon says we have guests?"
Calista hugged him tightly then nodded slightly. "Adonis has brought
along a nice young lady friend."
"It is about time," Gressa hmmphed as she took the flowers.
~~Well, it is. He needs a gorgeous lady like you, my imzadi. Nice girl?~~
~She seems quite lovely, actually,~ Calista smiled.
Maria grinned up at Adonis, thinking he still was rather beautiful.
"Can we help you with anything here? I hate to see other people working
if I'm just standing around."
~~She's wonderful, Audra, warm inside and out. So peaceful.~~
~~She does seem that way,~~ Audra agreed, kneeling to scrub the hardwood
flooring with a brush while a soft cloth worked on the brass and glass
light coverings.
"The last person I saw work like that was...never mind. Not a mutant?"
Maria asked him curiously.
Adonis shook his head. "Not a mutant. Just Audra," he said with a
gentle smile as Maria knelt to Audra's eye level.
"Are you sure you don't want some help?" Maria asked.
Audra looked into those kind eyes and smiled, careful not to expose
sharp teeth and fangs. "Thank you," she answered, "but I would prefer
you relaxed and enjoyed your visit. Really." All at once cleaning
implements all around the room sprang to life on their own, cleaning
frantically. "I've got this."
"Then..." Maria pointed at the cleaning utensils that fairly danced
about the room. "Don't exhaust yourself. Please?"
~~You coming up, son, or are you having a nice chat with Audra?~~
Adonis grinned, apparently, in Maria's eyes, for no reason. "Come on,
my dad's back," he said as he took Maria's hand. ~~Thanks, Audra. I
know you're a good judge of character.~~
Audra's face lit up at that. It meant so much to her to know there was
still something of value she had to offer these children she loved so
dearly.~~You're welcomed.~~
"I like her," Mara said softly as they walked back up the steps. "I
know I never met anybody like her but she just loves you. I can tell."
He nodded. "She's not just our nanny. She's a part of the family."
Meeting them on the way down, Artemis asked, "Audra or Gressa?"
"Both but Audra's the only one downstairs. She works too hard," Adonis
stated, shaking his head. "Maria wanted to help her."
Artemis laughed at that. "Never happen," she told her. More serious,
she explained, "Audra only accepts help when she's dropped from
exhaustion and has no choice. Daddy's tried for years to convince her
she's not a servant and doesn't have to try to do everything. That
she'll never be put out :or sent back. She doesn't seem to buy that."
"I can understand that but it's still hard for me to sit still and not
'do'. I'm the one who does that stuff at home," Maria explained.
Pas grinned when he saw both twins, along with the petite girl with the
oddly colored hair. "There you two are," he said, smiling broadly,
holding out his arms. "Trying to hide from the old man are you?"
"Never," Artemis answered, all but running into his arms. "Just was
going to go say hi to Audra, but it sounds like she's in another one her
cleaning frenzies."
Maria watched as Adonis joined his sister in embracing the older man.
It was quite obvious that this was their father since Adonis looked so
very much like him, despite the older man's mostly gray hair. She had
to smile. Such familial affection was lovely.
His arm still around his father, Adonis held the other one out to
Maria. "Come here, I want you to meet my dad."
Calista came running down the stairs, calling, "Jaresh, please keep the
warmers on. Mika's been delayed but is on her way, and I'd prefer that
she had her meal with the rest of us."
"K!" Jaresh called back from the kitchen, "It's not done anyway."
Calista frowned. "What do you mean it's not done? I thought you'd
finished preparing the last of it ten minutes ago."
"Nope," he called back, giggling. "STILL COOKING..."
Artemis laughed. If they let him go, he'd still be cooking ten hours
from now, or as long as it takes to run out of both fresh foods and
break the replicator. Didn't her mother realize that yet?
Struggling to keep a straight face, Adonis ignored Jaresh for the
moment, saying, "Dad, this is Maria Wagner. We met at some place you
had better take Mom one day: Butterfly World. Maria--my dad."
Pas smiled at the girl, sensing already what attracted his son. She
seemed a peaceful and serene girl, even if she was giggling at Jaresh.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Maria, though we may have met in passing a
while ago at Kai's wedding."
"Oh yes! Now I remember. You and Uncle Nat kept going on about
sports," she said as her hand was enveloped in his.
Artemis laughed again. "Yup, that sounds like Daddy."
Glancing toward Audra's cleaning cupboard, Calista stepped forward,
taking Maria gently by the arm and moving her slightly toward her. "Look
out," she said, before glancing in Pas direction and sighting as she
shook her head. Two spray bottles of cleaning solution and a fresh
package of sponges began to make their way toward the basement.
"I hope she doesn't get tired doing that," Maria mused, her eyes
following the bottles' path. "Anybody I know who does that gets a bit
exhausted from that much telekinetic activity."
"She does to," Calista confirmed, frowning. "We all do."
"Except us poor ordinaries," Pas said innocently but he did take
Calista's elbow. ~~Sit down and talk to the girl if you want. I'll see
to the rest.~~
.~~Thank you, imzadi.~~"Believe me, my love," Calista answered
affectionately. "There is nothing ordinary about you." She turned to
Maria again, gesturing toward the chairs nearby. "Join me?" she asked
her, smiling sweetly.
Adonis smiled at his parents, still so sweetly and genuinely
affectionate after all these years. His father waved him off saying,
"Go on and sit, son. I promise to behave."
~~Please, Dad. We'd like to keep you around a long time~~ Adonis told him.
~~I know, now go pay some attention to your girl. She's a sweetheart.~~
"So," Calista began brightly, addressing Maria. "Tell me more about
yourself."
"There isn't much to tell. I'm just an ordinary girl really," Maria
told her. Well, it was true. She didn't think she was anything so
special. "I was born and grew up in New York. The town is called Salem
Center but most of us live at the school there. It's fairly huge."
Calista nodded. "So you like it there?" she asked.
"It's home," she said serenely. "They still throw things at some of us
sometimes but only those who look different. They gave my brothers and
sister a very hard time."
"I suppose I should be grateful that Lokii's children bear such a strong
outward resemblance to those of Terra," Calista sighed, understanding
from having seen reactions to Audra, and Jaresh in his native form.
"But I am from here," Maria explained. "We all are. I'm actually, in
theory, half Spriti by the X gene is very strong usually. We have
almost no Spriti genetic traits at all. We are Human yet most people
will not see so."
"Ah, like Rae then," Calista smiled. "I knew a few people like that. The
X gene works in so many different ways it always astounds...." She
stopped as a mop bucket filled with fresh water and a brand new mop
began making their way downstairs.
"Gabriel's seen so many different types of people but that's because of
what he does. I like it home," Maria admitted.
"Gabriel as in Gabriel Wagner, the CO of DSVP, Mom. That's her
brother," Adonis explained.
"Oh!" Calista exclaimed. "Really? How nice. He's such a good man, your
brother."
"We had quite a clash of coincidences today," he said. "So much so that
see if this doesn't remind you of that picture Dad has of Mika when she
was little." He reached into his jacket to pull out the small holo copy
Maria made him of the picture of her and the butterfly.
"Well would you look at that,"Pas said as he stepped in from the
kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel he held.
Calista was amazed. "It really does remind me of it. Amazing." She
looked at Maria and chimed. "You've always been beautiful. I see the
proof here."
"God has been very liberal with his blessings for me," Maria said, her
face flushing red.
Squeezing her hand gently, Calista assured her, "No doubt you remain
worthy of every one of them and more." She stopped again when she saw
another duster and two more scrub brushes making their way to the
basement. Sighing, she looked at her husband, frustrated. ~~She's been
at this two days now. She's not going to come up again tonight at this
rate.~~
~~Let me go and see why~~ he told her before smiling at Maria.
"Calista's right, dear. My son has a good eye but only because you're a
fine subject."
"True...he's very picky," Artemis laughed.
"Missy, behave please." Calista scolded even as she laughed. ~~thank you,~~
"I'm not picky, sister dear, I have good taste," Adonis said mildly even
if his smile was a bit forced.
Pas fought back the urge to roll his eyes as he carefully descended the
stairs to the basement. He left the lights low and just stood there,
watching the flurry of activity, "Audra, stop. Please."
"I'm not done," Audra said without looking up, her voice slightly
strained. "It's not clean yet."
He crouched in front of her and settled a hand on top of one of her
small ones. "Stop, Audra, it's fine. Really." ~~What's the matter?
Talk to me.~~
Audra looked up slowly, her eyes filled with fear. "She called. Her
mother. I no longer have children to tend. No longer have a reason to
be here. She tries to take me from here. Back to Tan."
Something was obviously going on between the twins. Maria had her own
siblings and she knew enough when background spoke without speaking.
It's my fault...
"Okay...okay...sorry, Donny," Artemis giggled. "I'll stop."
Pas hardly ever swore. It went against his pacifist nature in general
and, he usually explained, it just wasn't respectful or classy. Just
then, though, there was nothing else to say. "Bullshit," he said
swiftly. "You aren't going anywhere. You're no servant. You're family
and that's it. If I have to weasel some way around their bizarre laws
then that's what I'll do." He squeezed her hands very lightly and
looked into her sad eyes. "Audra, those children love you. They won't
let anything happen to you."
"They can't stop it," Audra hissed in terror. "I'm Tantori. Remember."
Pas put his arm around her and patted her shoulder. "For everything
you've done for us, keeping you safe is the least that we can do, hon.
You know that. Adonis is not going to take this lying down. That boy
/loves/ you."
"I don't believe, Artemis," Adonis said levelly, enunciating each
syllable carefully, "that my name is Donny."
Artemis exchanged glances with her mother, before answering primly. "No,
dear brother Adonis, I don't believe it is. Do forgive my error."
Winking at Maria then, she added, "You'd prefer I called you Addy? Or
perhaps Nissy? Hmm...think I like that one."
"Y'know," he said, his eyes narrowing, "you're older than me, sister
dear, you're supposed to be setting a good example."
Maria had been watching the by-play quietly, unsure if it would erupt
into some of the full fledged fights she'd seen at Xavier's. Those
usually left things pretty well damaged but they wouldn't do that
here...would they? She glanced at Calista. "Is he really the younger?"
"Not by much, but yes," Calista confirmed before casting stern eye at
her children. "Enough now. Artemis, please check on Jaresh." Smiling
again at Maria, she added." Adonis, perhaps you would like to show your
lovely young lady around while we wait for Mika to arrive."
"Forty years old and I still have to listen to my mom," he said with a
snort.
"Are you really?" Maria asked, her eyes widening.
"What? Forty?" At her nod, he said, "Almost forty-one actually."
"You barely look older than me," she said softly.
Calista looked to Gressa. "Will you mind them while I check on Pas and
Audra. She's so out of sorts the last few days. I'm not sure what to do."
If Maria hadn't been so used to Logan, she might have jumped clear out
of her skin at the sight of the imposing Klingon woman, who was even
bigger than Adonis and his father. As it was, she edged closer to him
any way.
Gressa fixed both twins with a hard stare. "Do you really wish for me
to start singing again?" she asked darkly.
"No, Lady Gressa. ..thanks...we're, uh, all good. Right, Adonis?"
Artemis answered quickly, sincerely hoping that wouldn't happen.
~~Why don't we keep the Donny bit to ourselves then? Hmm? Klingon
opera sounds like German opera and Maria might like it~~
Artemis snorted. ~~ You got it, little brother. Anything to avoid that
noise.~~
Maria bit back a tentative laugh. "Be careful when you meet my Uncle
Logan then, Adonis. He's...something else but he doesn't sing."
"Barbarian," Gressa hmmphed.
Pas was still seated on the basement floor next to Audra and his dark
eyes were more than vexed when he saw Calista. "Your mother called," he
said simply.
"Oh?" Calista asked. "What did she need?"
"She wants Audra back to Tan," Pas began. "Apparently she has no
children to take care of any more so...this is insane, Calista. We
can't let that happen."
Calista eye lit up in anger. "I've already told her she can't have her
back. Audra stays with us. As the ambassador to Terra, I require an
attache. Audra is that person." Things around the basement began to
quake as Calista's temper rose. I can't believe she is trying this
again. She never lets up." All at once everything stopped moving, as
Calista's eyes narrowed. "Fine. We'll do it her way. If we must have
more children in order for her to stop this craziness, okay. We'll start
working on it tonight. Okay?"
Pas ignored the shaking objects in the basement though he was fairly
sure that the children must have felt what was going on. It had to be
why she stopped. That wasn't why he was ignoring the objects, though.
"Ah, are you serious?" he asked carefully.
"Yeah," Calista answered." Mother's been pushing this for the last
twenty years. I've had to argue it with her at least once each season,
and each time she's more insistent and more intent upon having her way.
I'd hoped that grandchildren would be the answer, but I don't see that
happening right away, do you?" She looked Audra, her expression
softening. "She's family, Pas. We can't let them take her." She looked
down at the floor. ~~they still intend to kill her for her crimes.~~
Pas hmmphed softly. ~~Grandkids'd be nice but...yeah...~~ He didn't
see it happening either, though. They wouldn't suggest such a thing to
the children even before now. "Did I ever tell you how much I seriously
dislike your mother at times like this?"
"Yes, dear, many times," Calista answered wryly. "Almost as much as
Christian does."
"Please," Audra asked quietly, her eyes on the floor. "Do not subject
yourself to her for me. It's alright." Slowly, she stood. "I have lived
much longer than I was entitled to. You have given me much. A life, a
purpose, even a family. I am grateful. You need do nothing more."
Turning away, she began calling all the supplies to her and sending them
back to their places. "Come....the children wait."
Pas reached over to tilt her chin up. "Audra, sometimes it's a question
of subjecting her to me," he said with a mild snort. "Or the twins for
that matter. Or Christian...You don't ever have to look down when you
talk to us. You know that." ~~It really would be interesting,
though...tonight...yeah...~~
When Audra looked up at him it was with tear filled eyes. "She won't let
it go. To her, I am still just Tantori. Worse. I am Altamecha Tantori.
And a criminal. This time she offered a replacement for me. She will
send her in two days time."
Adonis looked at his twin, eyes narrowed. "Something's going on down
there, Artemis," he said, all teasing now gone. "Something's very wrong."
Artemis nodded curtly. She felt it too. "Let's go," she said. Turning to
Gressa she added. "Can you or Jaresh send Mika down when she gets here,
please?"
Gressa nodded just once. She'd ceased wondering about the psi talents
of the children years before. She did as they asked. Maria, though,
looked hesitant. "If there's a problem, maybe I ought to go home," she
said softly.
"No, don't." Artemis answered quickly. "Please...you can come with us.
It's alright."
"Please, Maria," Adonis said, taking her hand. "You're a very peaceful
soul. It helps."
Her cheeks flushed at his sincerity. "Alright."
Artemis took her other hand and led them down the steps to the basement.
Stopping halfway, she looked at her brother, horrified. "She's
crying..." She sped up until they were nearly running down the rest of
the way.
Adonis was horrified at the tears on Audra's face and the looks on his
parents' faces. "What's going on and don't say nothing because there is."
"Your grandmother has struck again," Calista growled, refusing to cry,
though she was both angry and very upset at the news. "Apparently she's
sending me a new attache. And recalling Audra to Tan, since she is, in
your Grandmother's eyes, no longer needed here."
"Audra...you should have said something to me before," Adonis began even
as he went to put his arm around his mother. His dark eyes settled on
Maria. "It's a death sentence."
"NO!" Maria cried, her eyes filling. "Because she's different?"
"Because she is of Tan," Artemis answered bitterly. "But they can't take
her. She looked from her father to her brother, her expression pleading.
"You can't let them take her."
"Take who?" came a feminine voice from the top of the stairs in advance
of footsteps descending.
~~Audra and you know exactly who~~ Adonis looked up at his older sister
as she finally joined them. He fixed his eyes on his parents. "She
can't do this. What are we going to do?"
"I thought perhaps to show the same need she had before," Calista
admitted,"but it appears she's being....replaced....upgraded...something
of that sort. Unless we can find a way to prove we can't spare her, that
she can't be replaced, she leaves in two days." She looked at Pas,
tearing up, "I don't know what else to do. I've fended off every attempt
so far, and each time she finds what she considers a solution to my
argument. She won't accept that Audra is more than property. Keeps
insisting that Tantori cannot be family to the children of Lokii."
"Wait...you said the need she had before. Do you mean Adonis and me?"
Artemis asked, the wheels beginning to turn.
"Yes. I'd claimed her as my attache before, but this new girl can do
that, and tend to any children I we might have," Calista answered sadly.
"Maybe," Artemis said slowly, "but she can't be in two households at
once, right? So if one of us were to have that same need, she'd have to
let Audra stay. Right? Wouldn't she?"
"No," Audra answered firmly, though she shook with fear.
"Children....should come as you did...within a loving bond....to a
family who really wants them. Not just for convenience sake." She looked
at Pas. "You taught me that. Remember. Children must be wanted and loved."
Pas nodded slowly. It still pained him to think of how close he'd come
to losing the twins and Calista before they were born. "I wouldn't give
up any of my children and I have you and Gressa to thank for helping us
keep together."
Maria blinked back tears. It was so unfair, something she'd heard about
and lived all her life. But death...she shuddered and edged even closer
to Adonis.
Audra looked at the girl and smiled softly, still careful not to expose
her fangs. "It's alright...I've lived long...more time than those of Tan
should, I've been told." she left out the fact that it was Calista's
mother who'd pointed it out. Looking at the twins, she added, "You will
make a new friend now."
"People aren't interchangeable that way," Mika said, shaking her head,
wondering just when he little brother had found himself a girlfriend.
"Exactly," Artemis agreed with her sister. "So...how long do I have to
fill this hole?" she asked, indicating her abdomen, her expression
completely serious.
"About as soon as your mother does, baby," Pas said wryly. "What are
you up to, Artemis?"
"Well, actually, there's something I kind of wanted to talk to you guys
about," Artemis answered sheepishly.
"Oh?" Calista asked. "And what would that be?"
~~What are you up to, sister?~~ Adonis asked.
"Well, see. Mom. Daddy. Do you remember when I took that little vacation
on Delta IV?" Artemis began.
~~You didn't...~~Mika began, hers eyes widening.
"Go on," Pas said carefully, caught somewhere between shock and
impending joy and the urge to throttle some stranger.
"Well, see....I met this guy...really sweet...and just so completely
irresistible," Artemis smiled in spite of herself.
~~She is having entirely too much fun with this, imzadi~~ Pas said as he
looked at his wife. ~~Are you thinking what I'm thinking?~~
Unaccountably, Maria felt a blush climbing her cheeks. She knew where
this was going and, while it pleased her for Artemis' sake, it also
embarrassed her. It was something of a sin but, at least, a lovely one.
Calista nodded, trying hard to keep a straight face as her daughter
continued, "Well, see....we got to talking....then we sort of started
dancing...and it felt so good to be so close....and, well...one thing
sort of led to another, as they will, you know...."
"Let's see. I've been married to your mother for over forty years and
there are three children sitting here in front of us. I'm fairly sure
that, by now, I know how it goes, baby," Pas said wryly.
"Oh, good...then you won't be at all upset when I tell you how it
ended," Artemis said brightly. "Right? Grandpa?"
"Come here, baby," Pas said, beaming and holding out the arm that wasn't
still around Calista and Audra.
Moving into his arms, Artemis asked, "So will that do it? If this new
person is supposed to be Mom's attache....I'll still need a nanny,
right? So Audra can stay?"
Pas looked at Calista questioningly. "Does it depend on how
unreasonable the woman is this week?"
Maria grinned up at Adonis. "You're going to be an uncle!"
Calista and Audra exchanged a look. "Mother always travels with her own
attache as well, and she's escorting mine personally." Looking up at Pas
she asked, "Can we really put it past her not to decide to leave hers as
well just so she can take her back?" She then looked to Adonis. "It'll
be a fight either way."
"No need," Audra shook her head, defeated. "She wants it. She leads the
counsel. She will have it."
~~I think the idea you had before is looking better and better, imzadi~~
Pas said touching his forehead to hers. ~~Though I'm sure that hag
would have something to say about my age and everything else.~~
Adonis felt the flicker of his sister's joy and sent it toward her but
he was angry. No, be honest, Kaartaren, he told himself. You're
infuriated. "She and I are going to have some very unpleasant words."
"Dinner?" Jaresh asked from the top of the stairs before spying Audra.
In two long strides he was there by her side. "What's wrong? Why is she
crying?"
"Because I have to go away," Audra answered sadly. "And I will miss all
of you."
"No!" Jaresh demanded. "You can't leave me. We're a team. You and me,
remember? You said you'd stay with me...."
"As long as I could....I remember, Jaresh....and I have. I would still
if I could." Audra replied.
"Please don't," Jaresh begged, starting to cry as well. He lifted her
into his arms, holding her close, the difference in size reminiscent of
a parent and child, though the roles here were often reversed. "Don't
leave me....please...."
"Jaresh, we won't let her be taken," Pas said, reiterating what they all
felt. "Please, sit with us if you want to."
"It's too bad they don't have the concept of sanctuary on other worlds,"
Maria said softly. "God's house is inviolate."
"Lokiians, at least most pure bloods, believe only in the great Lokii,
and the lesser gods Hel, Tan and Kel. All others are considered
pretenders or versions of Lokii, who set forth the rules of order
through our leaders. Audra wouldn't be safe there. Her fate has been
decided by Lokii's hand," Calista answered in flat, dull, hopeless tones.
"The chaos bringer," Maria hmmphed softly, the name sounding close to
the mythology studies from school.
"That'd be my grandmother alright," Adonis said darkly.
"He was called that in his father's realm, before it was destroyed,"
Calista admitted, not bothering to chastise her son.
Maria's face darkened. She knew the story but it couldn't be the same.
It was impossible. "I know his nephew," she said with a shake of her
head. "Aunt Rosie doesn't like him but my father still speaks to him."
Calista looked astounded. "Your parents know Lokii? Really?" she looked
at Audra, an idea forming."Is your father on good terms with him?"
"My father is--yes," Maria said carefully. "He said Magni went to
Xavier's for a while because it was the only way he could go to
Starfleet Academy." Her eyes, which were a shade of aquamarine, were
filled with disbelief. "Vati says they all think they're gods but
that's impossible. But yes, his name is Magni and his last name is
Asdgardson."
"Perhaps that's the answer." Artemis caught on,"If grandmother truly
speaks with Lokii within his temple, as is supposed, she would have to
acknowledge his family's powers as well. How could she say with
certainty a message through him didn't come from his Uncle?"
"Sweetheart, does the gentleman get offended when people don't quite
believe that he's...well, let's say not more than mortal?" Pas asked Maria.
She shook her head. "My father's beliefs are as strong as my own and
they've been friends for many years."
Pas nodded. "It's worth a shot."
"Would he do it?" Calista asked Maria hopefully.
"I..." Maria held her hands up as if to say she had no idea. "He and
Vati are friends. He's always been very nice to me. I can ask. I even
know where he's posted."
"Thank you," Calista said, hugging Maria quickly. "We'd all be so
grateful. It could be the key to allowing Audra to live. You can use our
com if you want to."
"You don't mind that I can't possible see him as what he says he is?"
Maria asked carefully. "He knows how we Wagners feel already but I
don't want you to think I am being disrespectful."
"Of course not," Calista answered. "While I know the faiths of my
mother's people, I don't share it. I was raised Catholic when I was
here on earth by my father, actually, when we weren't being dragged
back and forth between.the two worlds. I'm not sure I believe it still,
but I am familiar with the faith enough to respect you and anyone else
who hold to it."
Maria smiled softly at the mention of her faith, especially since they
were in Rome. Adonis said he'd take me wherever I wanted, too. That
happy thought in mind, she sat in front of the comm and reached into her
hand bag, where she kept a list of contacts. Of course the name and
code she was looking for was toward the beginning. Nimble fingers
tapped in the code and, before long, the official Starfleet logo came
up, with the registry of the USS Bifrost. It cleared to reveal an empty
desk.
"Asgardson," came the disembodied voice. "Who is it?"
"Maria Wagner, sir."
Audra's alabaster skin paled further at the thought of daring to speak
to one of the Gods for the sake of one like her. Didn't they what wrath
could be visited on them for speaking up for her? Why were they doing this?
The man who appeared on the screen could have been anywhere from twenty
years old to a hundred and twenty. He looked young but his blue eyes
were those of a very old soul. His hair was a light auburn as was the
neatly trimmed goatee that he wore. His uniform jacket was unbuttoned,
though, the only sign of relaxation until he smiled at Maria.
"Ah, the littlest Wagner!" he exclaimed. "How are you, sweets? Your
folks alright?" he asked.
"They're fine. Vati still teaches the same classes," she began. She
looked down at her hands a moment then up at her father's friend, not
knowing quite where to begin. "Sir, I need to ask a favor of you and it
may sound...strange coming from me."
"Yeah? Go on then, Maria. Let's hear it," the red haired man said
carefully.
"I want you to have one of the Tantori saved, pardoned, or whatever it
is that needs doing to let her stay where she is," she said in a rush.
Audra looked as if she might faint at any moment, so shaken was she by
the sight of him. It was really him. Thor's son, though he appeared
kinder speaking to the girl than he'd been said to be in their holy books.
Magni sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "One of my uncle's
domains," he said, almost to himself. "He still hates my father's guts
but he's always been decent to me." He looked at his friend's younger
daughter curiously. "How is it that you know one of them? He has their
laws so damned convoluted that it's practically a death sentence if they
even think of leaving the place."
"I think somebody else can explain better," Maria said carefully before
she turned to look at Calista. "Please, can you talk to him, Mrs.
Kaartaren? It's Magni Asgardson."
"Mr. Asgardson, I'm Calista DeAngelo." Calista introduced herself. "And
you are correct about the laws. The Tantori are used and abused on their
home planet, forbidden either leave or to defend themselves and
sentenced to die if they do. Our friend, Audra Sonata, is one such as
this. They allowed her grace to serve us, though, in truth, she is as
one of our family, but only because I am the Lokiian High Council
leader's daughter, and Ambassador to the Federation, but now that grace
has been withdrawn. They send another thinking to replace her, as if
that were possible, and demand her return to fulfill the sentence of
death they've passed against her." Tears flowed freely as she spoke
this, the fear of losing her friend tearing her up inside. "Please....if
there's any way you can help in this, please...we love her. We couldn't
bear to lose her."
The entire time Adonis' mother spoke, Maria stayed next to her, daring
to hold her hand in a gesture of comfort. "Please, Magni," she added
softly. "It would be the same as if somebody wanted to execute me or
Vati or Grandpa for being mutants."
"Don't get me started on that bit, Maria. That still annoys me,
especially when I can't do anything about it other than stand there and
fight beside them.," Magni grumbled. He then turned those vivid blue
eyes onto the other woman. Of course she was one of them. She was too
perfect, appeared too young, to not be one. Ordinarily, that would have
irked him but he felt her sincerity even across space. "You know,
ma'am, I ordinarily don't stick my nose in my uncle's business, even if
I don't agree with what he does. It gets much uglier than you'd think.
far worse than any family fight on this plane of existence. But--you
asked and Maria asked and that's enough. Besides, it isn't me that my
uncle hates. It's my father."
"Thank you, and I'm sorry if this causes problems for you with your
uncle, sir, but..."Calista turned and drew Audra toward herself and
Maria. "This is the Audra Sonata. I thought if maybe you could just
help him see how worth saving she is."
Audra moved without resistance to where she was pulled, eyes
down, knowing without a doubt that it would be unforgivable for one such
as she to gaze upon one so filled with grace.
Magni smiled gently. "Hello, Audra. I'm very pleased to meet you," he
said, speaking as gently as he smiled. "You can look up at me, you
know. If it helps, don't look at me as my father's son. Think of me as
yet another damned Starfleet officer."
Audra smiled slightly at that, though her black eyes were filled with
fear. She'd known enough who'd talk to her gentle so she'd drop her
guard, then turn on her brutally for it.
"One day, if you meet Maria's father, you'll understand why I don't hold
the same values as my uncle. For now, I can't expect you to trust me
but you can trust Maria. She's a good girl," Magni said, his blue eyes
holding those dark frightened ones.
"Oh stop that," Maria said with a blush. "I'm nothing special."
"You're a sweetheart, girl," Magni chuckled. "You know all the old
stories, Audra?"
Audra nodded hesitantly. She'd heard all the tales, both from before the
worlds of Lokii and after.
"The Ragnarok never quite happened yet so things have gone on that
mortals don't know about, mostly because they forgot us. I am quite
comfortable with that though I still have my powers. I am the High Mage
of the Aesir, the ones who dwell in Asgard, even if I stay on this
plane. I will do my uncle the courtesy of asking simply because he is
my uncle but I can do things without his permission." He smirked
slightly and ran a hand over the goatee. "It feels good to flex the
magic now and then."
"But the old stories..they said it happened....Fenris...Tyre...didn't
it?" Audra asked, confused.
"Is it wise to provoke Lokii, sir?" Calista asked, worried if the
outcome wouldn't be worse for Audra if Lokii didn't approve.
"I have no intention of provoking him, ma'am," Magni explained. "If for
no other reason, if I tell him Maria asked, he'll agree. He was
mightily irked, to be polite about it, when my father asked that I be
allowed to go to Xavier's. He thought they would...hmmm...well, water
me down. Obviously they didn't and he was pleased that Maria's father
took me as a friend. The man ceased taking his gripes with my father
out on anyone but him. It'll be fine."
Calista nodded gratefully, as Audra lowered her eyes and whispered a
quiet," thank you."
"You're very welcome, Audra. Now I'll get started on this as soon as
I'm off the comm but I do have to ask something. We Aesnir are nothing
if not nosy. How is it that Maria came to be sitting there in your house?"
"She has agreed to grace our home and our table with her presence on the
arm of my son this evening," Calista answered with a smile.
"Ah ha! See to it that he treats you right, Maria. I know what your
father would do otherwise," Magni warned.
"He will, sir. He's a nice man," Maria stated, her cheeks warming again.
"Good, that's what I like to hear. Folks, I'll be in touch shortly,"
Magni said as he closed the connection.
"I'll make more food," Jaresh announced. "In case he comes over."
Adonis stepped over to where Maria was still sitting with his mother and
Audra. "Thank you, Maria," he said simply before kissing her forehead.
"Yes, thank you," Calista agreed as her youngest daughter turned to Jaresh.
"You know, how about if instead of cooking now, we start eating,"
Artemis told him, taking him by the arm. "I'm so hungry even turnips
sound good right now."
"Turnips?" Jaresh asked, smiling. "I got turnips!"
Artemis laughed. "I'm sure you do."
"Do you like turnips, Maria?" Mika asked as she stood up. "If you do,
you'll never be disappointed in Jaresh's cooking."
"Don't worry," Calista reassured her, "If you don't. He's made at least
a dozen other dishes besides. I'm sure there'll be something you'll enjoy."
"At the school, we have had so many different people from around the
world come to live, some only for a little while, that we all get used
to different things very quickly," Maria said easily then she grinned at
Jaresh. "My grandfather loves turnips."
Audra smiled up at him gently as Jaresh got excited. "We can send him
some. I have lots. Lots and lots and lots."
"I tell you what, Jaresh," Adonis said, "I'll ask him about that when I
meet him. They only live in New York, on the other side of the ocean,
so it isn't that far."
"Okay," Jaresh agreed as he almost ran to the table, pulling out chairs
for each of them. "Sit down. Sit down. Time to eat." He chanted as he
settled each of them in then dashed after Audra into the kitchen to
bring the food.
"Is he always like that?" Maria asked softly. "I don't want to make him
nervous."
"Well...yeah, he sort of is like that," Adonis chuckled.
Jaresh clapped his hands and giggled like a child on Christmas morning
as Audra directed the many dishes onto the table. "Here, have this..."
He said, putting known favorites of one kind or another onto each of the
family members plates.
The whole display reminded Maria of group breakfasts at home. She
wondered if the wings Jaresh had worked, smiling as she recalled the
flyers in the group delivering meals. Then again, there were her father
and grandfather simply teleporting about to accomplish the same thing.
~~Guest approaching~~ Pas said as he looked up past the dining room
entrance.
Calista groaned silently. ~Tell me mother's not early...~
~~No, I'd have a head ache already if it was her.~~ He offered a less
than apologetic smirk. ~~No this seems more like the gentleman on the
screen. I guess Aesnir time is different from people time, eh?~~
Calista nodded slow, picking up her wine. ~~I'd always heard it was so.~~
"Gressa, would you get the door please?" Pas asked.
"Show off," the gray haired Klingon muttered as she stomped (which was
her normal gait) across the house to the front door. She yanked the
door open just as a tall Humanoid looking man in shades of blue was
about to knock. " 'Iv 'oH SoH?" she demanded.
"Magni Asgardson," the red haired man replied directly, without even
blinking. "I'm here to see the lady of the house."
Jaresh bound joyfully behind Gressa. "Come in and eat. I made turnips!"
he called before bounding back.
"Turnips." Magni held back a shudder. Evil things. He held back an
amused smile at the Klingon as he followed her. He liked Klingons.
They had attitude. "I think I can do without those. They taste worse
than they look."
Pas stood up slowly, holding his hand out to Calista as he heard,
audibly and mentally, Gressa approach. "Shall we, imzadi?"
Calista stood and took his hand. "Let's."
"Your guest, Kaartaren," Gressa grumbled, eyeing the man warily. She
liked the weird little woman who lived with them and she'd snap the man
in half if he didn't do as he was supposed yo.
The tenor of the man's thoughts were clear. His amusement with Gressa
amused Pas but he kept that to himself. It just wouldn't do to have her
slug him just then. "Captain Asgardson, welcome to our home. I'm Pas
Kaartaren and I know you've spoken to my wife."
"Will you join us for a bite?" Calista asked, gesturing toward the table.
"I'd be pleased to but do you want me to tell you what came to pass
first?" he asked quietly.
"Please," Calista answered, nodding slightly, glancing toward the formal
dining area. "But only if it's good news. If not, let's wait until the
meal has passed. Alright?"
"Absolutely," Magni said, holding up his hands. He spied the tiny woman
who had to be the one named Audra and smiled. Then he waved at Maria.
Turning back to Pas and Calista, he shook his head. "I wouldn't be rude
enough to come with bad news. I don't enjoy that like some people do.
Can you ask Audra to come over, though? I think she's afraid of me."
"She's Tantori," Calista reminded him, as she silently called for Audra
to join them. "Of course she's afraid."
"That's my uncle's purview. I only make people afraid who piss me off
and Maria wouldn't do that," Magni said with a shrug. "It's why my
name's Asgardson and not Thorson. I'm my own man."
Audra approached nervously, eyes down. "Yes, ma'am?"
Calista sighed, drawing her closer with an arm around her shoulders.
"Audra..."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, still minimizing the hissing. "I meant, Yes,
Calista?"
Calista sighed silently. Someday they'd get this down, she hoped.
~~Relax, Audra. He won't bite: not literally or figuratively~~Pas said
gently.
Magni spotted a nearby chair and sat himself in so that he was more on
an eye level with Audra. "Come here, Audra. My name's Magni Asgardson
and I'd like to talk to you."
Audra stepped closer, if only slightly and glanced toward him a moment
to show he had her attention.
"You know, I went and had a chat with my uncle. He likes me actually,"
Magni said with an amused snort as he rested his elbows on his knees,
trying to minimize his height as much as possible. "I explained how
very much you mean to these fine people, how you are family to them. He
knows I don't ask him for anything. He also knows how very highly I
think I Maria and her family. So...you are no longer his charge, my
dear. You're mine and I say you stay here. Anybody who dares say
otherwise is not going to like the consequences."
"I am...yours now?" Audra asked, making sure she'd understood correctly.
"No longer of Tan?"
"No, sweetheart," Magni said gently. "You are your own person. In the
grand scheme of things, if I had to explain it to this fine lady's
mother: yes, you would be mine. You know what though? It'd be a lie of
convenience that we'd both know wasn't true. Do you understand?"
The glance Audra cast from Calista to Pas made it clear she really
didn't. Could a child of Tan belong to themselves? Wasn't that unheard of?
"I'll try to explain it better for you later, Audra," Pas said as he
reached to cup her chin, "but it means that the wicked witch of the far,
far west can't touch you without what sounds like drastic consequences."
Adonis snorted in outright amusement as his father's description but
otherwise kept quiet.
Magni smirked at the son's reaction but nodded. "Ask Maria, Audra.
People--mortals especially-- who piss me off generally regret it."
Audra looked from Pas to Calista and back, confused and more than a
little wary, but only nodded in response. Better not to risk saying the
wrong thing, in that case.
"Oh stop," Maria said softly. "You don't mean it that way."
"No," Magni hmmphed. "You're right. I'm a level headed man now, much
more so than I was years ago. She means the people who used to harass
her father and family."
Audra looked uncertain. Did that mean she was at risk or not?
"Excuse the interruption, Captain, but that wouldn't apply to, say,
those who you're technically in charge of otherwise, would it?" Adonis
asked mildly.
"Od's blood--no! I'm a pushover, Audra. You need not be afraid of me,"
Magni said softly as he realized what the younger Kaartaren meant.
Calista sighed. It was Audra's nature to fear, unfortunately. It was
what her people had been taught since their birth, to fear all others
who are so far above them. Audra only nodded. Alright. If he said so.
Magni rested his blue eyes on Audra's small face and smiled softly. "If
you ever need anything, you can feel free to call me or tell Maria to
call me. Captain Wagner's baby sister won't get put on hold by anybody."
Audra hesitated, then nodded. She wasn't prone to calling for help, but
it would make no sense to contradict a God. If he said it should be so,
then he must be right.
"Good," Magni said as he stood up. Then he grinned at Pas and Calista.
"You know, I haven't been in this part of the world since I was a kid
and Maria's dad took me to Germany. I thank you for the invitation."
"Please believe the pleasure is all ours," Calista smiled, gesturing
toward the table.
"Oh, good," Jaresh grinned. "More people. I make more food."
"NO," Calista, Audra and Artemis all called out in unison,though Artemis
barely managed through the laughter. Just what they needed, she thought.
More last minute turnip dishes..
"Trust me," Audra told him gently, taking Jaresh's arm and leading him
toward the serving platters. "We've more than enough."
~~Mom, when's you know who due?~~ Adonis asked his mother, using the
mind speak if only so Audra wouldn't be bothered.
~~Well....Audra has been downstairs two days since the call...she said
mother was coming in....~~ Calista stopped as the realization set in,
looking from her son to Pas.
Pas, still never in the habit of mental eavesdropping, nevertheless knew
exactly what was on Calista's mind when she looked at him. ~~You behave
yourself, son,~~ he said mildly. ~~Imzadi, that woman is never late so...~~
He nearly cringed when the doorbell rang.
With a shuddering sigh, Audra rose. "I'll get it."
"No," Jaresh answered, his voice unusually forceful as he drew himself
to his full height, his eyes flashing. "Let me."
"You know, sis," Adonis said to both Artemis and Mika, "I think this
particular scene is going to be interesting."
"Ever the master of understatement," Artemis responded, shaking her head
as Jaresh stalked menacingly toward the door.
"Is he going to cause a problem?" Maria asked Adonis in a hurried whisper.
"Mmm...probably," Adonis said mildly, winking first at his twin and then
squeezing Maria's hand in comfort. "Don't worry. Jaresh is a wise man."
Jaresh drew a deep breath and unfurled his great, filmy wings, his eyes
glowing with an unnatural light and a wind seeming to come up around him
as he opened the door, as he looked down at the petite, youthful-looking
beauty before him. "Can I help you?" he asked in tone that effectively
informed her of his distaste for her presence.
She favored her daughter in both form and feature, save for her rigid
stance, the harsh set of her jaw, and the icy coldness of her heart.
"Stand aside, boy, I've little time to waste on the likes of you. Where
is my daughter?" With a wave of her hand she sought to remove him from
her path, only to find him completely immovable, having planned ahead
and drawn the wind about him to anchor himself.
"You interrupt the family at dinner, madam," Jaresh growled. "You and
your entourage will wait in the parlor until the Ambassador sends for you."
Angelique Liliana Marquez huffed indignantly. "Stand aside boy. "
Though things around him began to quake with her anger, Jaresh stood firm.
"That'll be enough, Jaresh," Pas said mildly as he stood up. "The place
is clean as a whistle so we don't need things breaking." He made his
way over slowly and gracefully. He tried not to fix the woman with a
baleful stare but it was an effort, even for him. "You really are
interrupting, you know. I'm fairly sure at least one of our guests
wouldn't appreciate it."
"Irrelevant, Doctor. I am here to see my daughter, the Lokiian
Ambassador. You will kindly remove this fool from my sight and direct me
to her presence at once." The woman huffed.
Betazoid eyes darkened in a rare bout of anger. "You know. I have met
some fairly disrespectful people in my time but you--" Pas fumed, his
face flushing with anger, indignation, and more.
"Dr. Kaartaren, would you mind if I interjected?" came a calm voice.
"By all means, Captain," Pas said mildly, even if he was still angry,
smolderingly so.
Magni winked at Audra and Maria and stood from where was seated next to
Mika. He strolled over without a care in the world and smiled at
Calista's mother. "The man's right you know, Ms. Marquez. You are very
disrespectful."
"Indeed," the woman responded gratingly before taking full measure of
the man. Her already pale features paled further as she looked into his
eyes. There was no mistaking the similarities to the likenesses crafted
about the main council chambers. He looked very like their own God,
Lokii, he who had created, ruled, then forgotten his children, leaving
them to fend for themselves with the gifts he'd bestowed upon them
before his disappearance. Only those such as herself, those highly
astute and intuitive, those who existed among his favorites on the world
that bore his name could sense his wishes and share them with the
masses. Only they had the authority to gain audience with their creator.
No child of Tan, or worse, offworlder, would dare show themselves before
him. That alone suggested this was not he, but one, perhaps of his
lineage. Or, even more likely, and imposter brought here in a last
desperate effort to thwart the will of the Gods.
"You're also very arrogant, condescending, and definitely not as
all-knowing as you think," Magni stated, hands held easily at his side.
His hands, despite years as a Starfleet officer, were still clean and
well formed. One finger pointed at the woman. "I'm not quite as
liberal with power as certain of my relations are but I can be. Ask
Maria over there. She knows. Ah, but I'm being rude. If the good
doctor will pardon my taking the right of naming guests from him, allow
me to introduce myself. Captain Magni Asgardson or, for your purposes,
Magni son of Thor, Scion of Asgard."
Angelique stood a moment, unable to respond. When at last she found her
voice she answered meekly, "My Lord. Forgive my seeming rudeness. I seek
but to serve. I come to my daughters home today to bring her gifts and
correct a longstanding error only." Drawing the twin girls behind her to
the forefront, both her attache and the new assistant she selected for
Calista, she presented them to him. Both of the young, fresh-faced
young girls averted their eyes, not daring to look upon his visage. "I
present to you Astrild and Atla, my Lord."
"Ah, hello, ladies, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said warmly,
looking at the girls even if they would not look at him. The warmth
fell from his face when he looked back at Angelique. though. "Now, that
young lady over there with the bluish hair is a daughter of a friend of
mine. She's also a friend of your grandson's." Maria would have waved
at anyone else but as it was, she simply nodded to the woman. "She
asked a favor on behalf of your *ahem* long standing error and I looked
into it."
"Then surely you know, my Lord, why the vile creature must be returned
to face the right and just punishment for her crimes. It is long past
time to remove the taint of her presence from the home of my beloved
daughter and her children before any further contamination occurs."
Angelique insisted. "For too long she has spread the disease of her
existence among them, filling their minds with confusion and lies and
blurring the lines between the righteous and the fallen until they can
no longer see the difference. So skilled is she at twisting the truths,
she has held herself up as a martyr before them, but we know different.
The thing is a murderess and a fiend who survives by feeding upon the
flesh and weaknesses of others. I have proof!"
Magni leaned forward slightly from the waist, as if he were peering at
something he just couldn't believe was true. "Taint and disease.
Right," he hmmphed dryly. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes at
Pas. The man was clearly beyond angry and deep into fury. "Dr.
Kaartaren, maybe you ought to have a seat before you burst a blood
vessel. Perhaps talk to these lovely ladies here." Without waiting to
see whether or not Pas would do that, he turned bright blue eyes back to
Angelique. When those same eyes had looked at Maria and the others,
they were full of warmth and caring. Now, though, they were cold, as
cold Niflheim, ruled by his cousin Hela. "You're starting to irritate
me. lady."
"I do but adhere to the laws of my Lord Lokii, Master Magni," she
answered simply.
"Hmm, yes, about those laws," Magni said, taking a few pacing steps.
"As I said before, Miss Wagner over there asked a favor on someone's
behalf. She's a good girl in that way. Since it was her who asked, I
asked my uncle about the whole matter. You know what he said? Would
you care to guess?"
"I awake his answer, Master Magni." Angelique responded honestly."Pray,
tell me."
Magni resisted rolling his eyes. He knew his uncle got off on that sort
of attitude but it annoyed him. It grated on his nerves. "To the
point, then. The woman known as Audra Sonata is no longer under Loki's
charge. She's under mine. Not his--/mine/."
"Yours?" Angelique answered icily. "I see. So the creature is yours now.
And what, may I ask, will you be doing with it?"
"It? If you mean /her/ then the woman's free to stay where she wants as
long as she wants. If she's happy here where she's lived most of her
life then that would be her choice," Magni said calmly. Ice cold eyes
bore into Angelique. "If you, or anyone else from that nasty little
place you come from even thinks about bothering her or this family, I
will turn you into a tube grub in front of a starving Ferengi."
"She's a murderess.She killed a Barister. Lured him in, and destroyed
him, mind and body. Then she fled to the Low ways, leaving more death
and destruction in her wake until turning up, years later, in my child's
home, pretending to be some innocent and taking sanctuary in my child's
naivete. Please, you can't be thinking to set such an abomination free,"
Angelique protested.
"I do not agree with a lot of what my uncle's set up on your planet.
It's revolting. Honestly, if the whole race of her people rose up and
smote you all into dust, I wouldn't bat an eye. I'd reward them. And,
personally, if I were your daughter, I'd be offended as hell at your
opinion of her."
"You dare question the wisdom of Lokii? In truth? And I'm to trust your
word on his will given this revelation?" Angelique asked in horror, as
if the rest of his comments had gone unsaid.
Magni lifted up his hand. It was purely for visual effect, for the
power within would be there even if the display wasn't, and his fingers
glowed white. "Question? No, I'm not an idiot, lady. He's my uncle
and I asked a favor of him. He knows that girl's father has always been
my friend and was thus inclined to grant me the favor in memory of a
kindness." One white glowing finger again pointed right at her. "What
I chose to say, or not, is not for the likes of you to expound upon."
"Of course not, Master Magni," Angelique sputtered, still trying to wrap
her head around the fact he'd asked a favor of Lokii on behalf of an
Altamechan whore. "Forgive me, please. It was only my surprise. Lokii's
will will be obeyed, of course. We live but to obey."
Magni snorted in outright amused contempt. "Surprise. Uh huh. Right
and I'm a tame house targ on a leash." He could hear Maria covering her
mouth to keep from laughing out loud. He was probably going to either
laugh or be really pissed off when this was through. Maybe both, he
realized. His finger still glowed. "Leave Audra alone, lady, or it's
your fault. Captain Asgardson has to be reasonable. Magni of Asgard
does not. You'd do well to remember that."
"Of course, my Lord. I give you my word. I will make no move to harm
her," Angelique answered smoothly with a smile.
"Yeah and if anybody else does, from any other world or even across the
damned street, I will lay the blame on you. Being reasonable is really
overrated," Magni said with an equally smooth smile, his eyes still ice
cold.
"But M'Lord," Angelique answered sweetly, "surely you realize I control
no-one but myself. I have no power over the remainder of the cosmos that
may or may not harbor malevolence toward any other. Such gifts reside
wholly within the realm of the Gods themselves."
"As I said, being reasonable is overrated," Magni said again. "Though I
could fix the problem by making an example of you for the rest of you
sick puppies and whatever henchman you might employ."
"Interesting categorizations, however I do not believe that will be
necessary," Angelique responded shortly.
"I'm no fool. Don't make me angry. To quote a long ago doctor, you
wouldn't like me when I'm angry. If you think displeasing Loki is bad,
imagine how bad I can be," Magni said with an utterly sweet smile.
"I will, of course, do my level best not to, m'lord." Angelique
answered, returning his saccharine smile.
"See to that and Vess du fan ikke kan oppfr d rntli s ska stapp hue ditt
opp i rva di, s kan du sett dr, aleina i mrtna, prat mannskit me d sjl,
Hespetre," he said, not even blinking as he used the language of the
ancients.
Though Angelique had no idea what he'd just said, she wasn't about to
tell him that. Instead, she thanked him sweetly. "May I now see my child
and her children, m'lord?"
"You're asking me? It's not my house." Magni nodded at Pas and then
back toward Calista. "That would be up to the good doctor here and his
wife." Even as he said that, he caught a look at Maria's face. The
poor girl was sitting there with her hand firmly over her mouth, eyes
wide with shock. Ah, damn, I forget how close that tongue is to
German. Got to apologize later...
Angelique looked toward her son-in-law, awaiting his invitation.
~~Is she joking?~~ Pas asked Calista. completely ignoring the woman.
~~Other than jail, I can't think of one reason I shouldn't kill her.~~
Calista stepped forward quickly at that, sending Pas as much calm as she
could muster as she replied for them. "I think perhaps that it would be
wiser to schedule a visit for another day, Mother. After emotions on
both sides have settled and true acceptance has occurred."
"But darling, I come bearing gifts," Angelique plead gently. "Surely
you'll allow me this?"
"In a day or two, mother." Calista answered firmly. "Not tonight."
Angelique looked wounded and hurt. "Very well, then, my darling." She
stated, sounding as if she might cry. "At your convenience, of course."
Casting a sharp glance at the twins who'd accompanied her, she turned to
leave. Both quickly scurried out obediently behind her.
Only when they were gone well beyond sensing any of them did Calista
dare breath again. Audra paler than before. Had all of that really
happened? "Sit, Audra." Calista directed gently, pouring her a glass of
wine. She really did look ready to faint. "Just breathe a moment."
Maria looked up at Adonis, her eyes sad. "What is she going to do to
those two girls?" she asked, whispering in his ear.
"I don't know," he said in a rough whisper. It pained him to think
about it.
Magni knew his presence frightened Audra but he sat across from her and
smiled. "It has been a very long time that I felt the need to defend
someone so strenuously, Audra. Thank you for reminding me what I'm
supposed to do. Strength's no good if it isn't used wisely."
Audra glanced at him timidly. "I ....am yours now?" she asked sadly,
trying to make sense of it all.
"No, my dear," he said gently. "You are your own person but, in the
ridiculous terms of that place you come from, legally yes you are mine.
Do you want to know what you can do for me?"
Audra looked up at him, the fear slowly replaced with curiosity. Slowly,
she nodded.
"Live here with these people as you always have, if that's what you
want. Make them happy and be happy and at peace yourself," he said simply.
"Vati rubbed off on you," Maria said softly.
"Your father's a wise man, Maria," Magni said with an easy shrug.
Audra looked stunned as Artemis let out a whoop of joy and ran to her
side, throwing her arms around the much tinier woman.
"Come now, Audra," Adonis said as he knelt next to her and his twin.
"Don't be so surprised that we love you. You're family," he added as he
kissed her cheek very gently.
Wrapping them both in her deceptively strong arms, Audra drew them near,
holding them as she had so often as children. "I love you too," she
whispered through joyful tears.
Pas put an arm around Calista and rested his cheek against hers. ~~I'm
sorry, Calista, but I couldn't take much more of that woman today. I
find I'm getting inflexible about that in my old age.~~
Wrapping her arms around his waist, Calista admitted with a rueful
smile. ~~So am I, my love. So am I.~~
He nodded toward their children gathered around Audra. ~~I really ought
to thank whatever gods, good will, or spirits there are that our boy met
Maria. That happy little coincidence really was the key."
Jaresh suddenly stomped his foot and demanded. "Time to eat..." Nudging
people toward the table, he grinned like a fool, "No more waiting. No
more arguing. No more ugly people at the door. We're all here. Sit down!
Sit down!" After a moments pause, he nodded his agreement. "You tell
them Porkchop. See, he's hungry." His long arms nearly encompassing
everyone in the room, he stopped nudging and drew them all together,
clearly intending to carry them all to the table.
Adonis gave Audra a quick extra hug before he stood up to rejoin Maria.
"He gets very insistent," he told her as he sat down,
"Who's Porkchop?" Maria asked.
Adonis looked at Mika, who shrugged at him, as if to say 'you're on your
own with this'. "I'll explain later."
Magni nodded at Jaresh. "Wise pig you have there, my friend."
Jaresh nodded, "He's been with me since the parting. I don't know what
I'd have done without him."
Magni held a hand out to his side, as if to invite the pig to sniff it
and get to know him. "Always good to have friends who know you from
before," he said easily. "Maria's dad is the closest I have to that but
that's not the same as Porkchop I'm sure."
Jaresh shrugged slightly, though a slight chill seemed to fall around
the room and his eyes seemed to change to reflect the choppy waters of a
stormy sea. His voice carried an almost frightening hollow resonance,
"Maybe it is. You're among those who will never really know you or
understand, though some may try. You were blessed enough to have one who
would stand by you always, even when the others no-one else can see come
with their loud shadow voices and their plans and powers changing things
and battling until it's settled whether the changes become real or
remain shadow. The hidden ones are always here whether you see them or
not." He looked at Magni closely, uncertainly, the boyishness returning
as the room warmed and the storm in his eyes cleared away. In the merry
voice they all knew, he stated. "Look, I think he likes you. No feeding
him under the table though, okay. He has his own dish."
"Of course not," Magni said. "It'll only teach bad manners to him."
But he'd understood everything Jaresh had meant, too. It was hard, at
times, to be, to put it mildly, different.
Jaresh grinned. He liked this one.
"Jaresh, maybe we could each be poured a glass of wine?" Pas asked. "I
think we need a toast to celebrate."
Jaresh nodded and moved to comply, only to find Audra already drawing
out the glasses and pouring them herself.
Adonis squeezed Maria's hand under the table. He had liked her to begin
with but this just cemented it completely. The family hadn't been so
collectively happy in a while, not with his grandmother's threats
hanging over them all. "Make sure you get one for yourself, too, Audra."
Audra nodded slightly, trying hard not to look surprised, as she poured
a very small amount for herself.
Pas waited until everyone had a glass then he raised his slightly. "I
think we have several honors that are in order. First and foremost, I
think I can speak for us all when I say that we are glad that our
smallest but not least family member is still with us."
All glasses were raised in agreement as Audra blushed, a slight hint on
color tingeing her pale features.
"Welcome home, Audra." Calista told her with a smile. "It's about time."
"And, once again, our thanks to Captain Asgardson for making that
possible," Pas continued after a sip.
Magni shook his head. "No, really, it was an honor and a privilege to
help."
Even so, Audra felt it necessary to whisper a silent thank you to him
alone.
"We are all in your debt. Thank you so much," Calista said aloud for all
of them.
Pas gave his wife a mental caress. He still adored the woman after all
their years together and she always knew the right thing to say.
"Exactly so, imzadi," he said, dark eyes smiling. He looked at his
younger daughter, the smile becoming decidedly more sweet. "And last
but never least, it seems our first grandchild will be joining us. Our
children have always been a blessing so I know theirs will be, too."
Artemis snickered at that one. Oh, yeah. They'd been real gems.
~~Shush up, Artemis~~ Adonis said to his sister. ~~I'll get in trouble
if I start laughing.~~
"So peace upon us all," Pas concluded.
All raised their glasses again. It did indeed seem they would all have
peace at last.
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